介绍： I'm delivering for Uber Eats after decades in corporate marketing. It's helped me make money — and stay humble.
From: Business Insider
I worked most of my career in corporate America in digital marketing.
The highlight of my career was my eight years at MasterCard, where I worked my way up to lead global soc...

介绍： I'm delivering for Uber Eats after decades in corporate marketing. It's helped me make money — and stay humble.
From: Business Insider
I worked most of my career in corporate America in digital marketing.
The highlight of my career was my eight years at MasterCard, where I worked my way up to lead global social media as a vice president. I've also worked at IBM. More recently, I've worked as a marketing consultant and an adjunct professor, but this hasn't generated enough income. Right now, I'm raising money to build my own company.
The idea of starting gig work came from my therapist, who said it would do wonders for me to see how others live.
I avoided it for several months. I went to Columbia University. I have a master's degree. I talked to people that I love, and they were like, "You shouldn't have to resort to this."
Eventually, in October, I delivered my first Uber Eats order.
Extra effort isn't always rewarded in gig work
Early on, I got the feeling that I was invisible to most people. For one order, I had to go pick up a cake. It turned out the bakery didn't have the cake the customer wanted, so I spent 20 minutes on the phone with the customer while I spoke with the bakery to find something else that would work.
When I finally made the delivery, the woman who ordered the cake had a blank look on her face — no "thank you," no extra tip, or anything. In my past jobs, putting in extra effort usually resulted in some sort of recognition. With delivery work, I haven't felt that a lot of times.
Then I realized that these companies charge so much money for these deliveries. It shouldn't be the customer's responsibility to tip.
I also don't always feel like I have a choice about which orders I can take. Sometimes, it doesn't work for me to pick up or drop off in the Bronx, and I usually don't want to pick up McDonald's orders.
I've done deliveries for Uber Courier, which involves delivering items between regular people. In one case, it was a backpack. Another time, it was a charger. It's a really valuable service, and I wish that Uber leaned into more of those deliveries.
Uber Eats pays the bills, but I don't feel in control
I use the money I earn from Uber — often a few hundred dollars a week — to make sure that my kids have a great weekend, like going out to dinner.
Overall, my experience working for Uber Eats has been humbling. I don't see myself as any better than other delivery people. I try my best to smile and be the bright moment in someone else's day. I also have fun, get to visit new restaurants, and see neighborhoods I would never go to otherwise.
It's so tough to figure out how common my experience is as someone turning to gig work to pay the bills while still nurturing professional ambitions. The unemployment numbers don't capture people like me who do gig work. I never thought I'd struggle as much as I have financially, and it feels like more of my friends than not are in my situation.
gig work /ɡɪɡ wɜːrk/ n. 零工工作
📗例句：He uses an app to find gig work on weekends.
（他用一款应用在周末找零工。）
🥝搭配：take on gig work 承接零工
humbling /ˈhʌmblɪŋ/ adj. 使人谦逊的
📗例句：Visiting the rural school was a humbling journey.
（参观那所乡村学校是一次令人谦逊的旅程。）
🥝搭配：a humbling experience 一次谦逊的经历
invisible /ɪnˈvɪzəbl/ adj. 看不见的；被忽视的
📗例句：The tiny insect is almost invisible to the naked eye.
（这种微小的昆虫肉眼几乎看不见。）
🥝搭配：feel invisible 感到被忽视